Diving Into Innovation: Pacific South Robotics Teams Go "Submerged" at 2025 Competition

OKINAWA, JAPAN – Kadena Elementary School’s event space was buzzing with excitement (and a lot of robot chatter) as the Pacific South Okinawa District hosted the FIRST LEGO League Robotics Competition on April 23, 2025. More than 113 students and 22 coaches from across the district came together to test their skills, teamwork, and quick thinking in a fun, high-energy environment centered around this year’s inspiring theme — “Submerged.”

The Pacific South District invited all elementary and middle schools to participate, and they answered the call in full force: 11 teams from four elementary schools competed in the FLL Explore Challenge, while 16 teams from eight schools went head-to-head in the FLL Challenge Competition. It was a full morning of robot runs, poster presentations, and lots of "quick rebuilds" when things didn’t quite go as planned — but that’s all part of the learning!

At its core, the FIRST Robotics program is about far more than gears and sensors. It teaches critical life skills like gracious professionalism, collaboration, creativity, and resilience — all in the spirit of solving real-world problems. According to the FIRST mission, the organization "inspires young people to be science and technology leaders and innovators by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build STEM skills, inspire innovation, and foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership."

And true to that mission, students at the Pacific South competition showed outstanding sportsmanship, teamwork, and even some surprise breakthroughs. Several teams performed better than they expected, adjusting strategies on the fly and working effectively under pressure.

"Our team learned which missions gave us the most points, so we focused on those," one student proudly shared, while another added, "I made new friends in our Robotics Club."

Friendships, fun, and programming, what more could you ask for?

Judging for the event was handled by some very special guests — military men and women from the Okinawa community, lending their leadership and expertise to make the day memorable. Several Instructional Systems Specialists were also on hand to cheer on the teams and help keep the event running smoothly.

At the awards ceremony, trophies were handed out for excellence in multiple categories:

• FLL Explore – Design and Show Award (1st, 2nd, 3rd place)
• FLL Explore – Model Design Award (1st, 2nd, 3rd place)
• FLL Challenge – Robot Game Awards – Elementary School (1st, 2nd, 3rd place)
• FLL Challenge – Robot Game Awards – Middle School (1st, 2nd, 3rd place)

"This type of competition provides students with real-world experience learning to think critically, troubleshoot effectively, and budget their time wisely," one organizer said, reflecting on the day.

Whether it was coding a robot to master a tricky mission or learning how to rebuild a model in record time, students walked away with skills that will last well beyond the competition floor. After all, in STEM — and in life — the real prize isn’t just winning; it’s learning to dive deep, adapt, and resurface even stronger.